Massaging device



NOV. 2, L H, SN I 2,452,798

MASSAGING DEVICE Filed Feb. 17, 1947 [EVEN/UP LELAND H. SNYDER PatentedNov. 2, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MAS SAGIN G DEVICE Leland H.Snyder, Chicago, Ill., assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., acorporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1947, Serial No.729,000

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an electromagnetic vibrator construction, andparticularly to 2. vibrator construction utilized in electromagneticallyoperated massaging devices.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved vibratorconstruction characterized by the simplicity of manufacture and assemblyof its components and particularly by the fact that all of the majorcomponents or" the device may be produced by low cost, high quantityproduction methods such as stamping and molding operations and nomachining of any components is required.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved constructionfor mounting the armature and magnetic core structure of a vibrator unitwithin a recessed casing, characterized by the utilization of a singlefastener for effecting the clamping of the magnetic laminations and therigid securing of such laminations to a unitary spring and armaturemember.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improvedvibrator construction for a hand held massaging device wherein anarmature member is resiliently supported with respect to a magnetic corestructure and in addition, both the core structure and armature areresiliently supported for vibratory movement with respect to therecessed casing in which they are mounted.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will become apparent to those skilled in the art fromthe following detailed description of the annexed sheet of drawingswhich, by way of preferred eX- ample only, illustrate one specificembodiment of the invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an assembled massaging deviceincorporating this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the plane II-II of Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the plane III-III of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of the combined armature and spring memberemployed in the massaging device of Fig. 1.

As shown on the drawings:

A vibrator construction embodying this invention is illustrated asassembled in a massaging device of the type more particularly describedand claimed in my copending application Serial No. 587,179, filed April7, 1945. Such massaging device comprises a casing I having a generallyball-shaped exterior such that it may be conveniently grasped by thehand of the operator and defining a cylindrical recess Ia which opens inone end of the casing. While not limited thereto, the casing i may beconveniently manufactured by molding of plastic or other suitableelectrically insulating material.

The vibrator construction embodies a laminated magnetic core structureI0 which is of the conventional E-shape, having a base portion Illa andthree pole portions lllb projecting from the base portion 1911. Whenassembled in the recess la of the casing, the pole portions 0bpreferably lie generally parallel to the axis of the recess and projecttoward the open end of the casing.

In accordance with this invention, a unitary armature and spring member[2 is provided comprising a stamping of generally U shape having spacedarm portions [4 and IS. The arm portion i4 is in itself deformed into asmaller generally U-shape configuration Ma so as to snugly surround thebase portion 16a of the laminated magnetic core structure and thusfunction as a clamp tending to secure the laminations in assembly. Thearm l6 of the unitary armature and spring member I2 is formed withintegral lateral extensions [6a and is arranged to be normallypositioned in bridging relationship with respect to the end faces of thepole portions lb of the magnetic core structure 10, but spaced slightlytherefrom. The inherent resilience of the U- shaped armature and springmember ill will, however, permit the end portions of arm [5 to be drawninto engagement with the end faces of the pole portions lllb when themagnetic core structure is magnetically excited.

The exciting coil i8 is mounted in conventional fashion surrounding thecentral pole portion lflb of the magnetic core structure Ill. Theelectric wires 26 for energizing the solenoid l8 are tied into a strainrelief knot 20a. and then inserted through a hole in a depending lug M?)which may be conveniently punched out of the arm portion id of thearmature and spring member I2. The wires then pass outwardly of thecasing I through a suitable aperture lb therein.

The vibrator construction is supported within the casing recess la by apair of bracket members 22. Such bracket members are of generally U-shape configuration and have one arm 22a thereof disposed adjacentdiametrically separated points of the wall of easing recess la. Such armportions 22a are provided with threaded holes which are in turnrespectively engaged by screws 24 which are mounted in suitableapertures I 0 provided in the casing wall. The other arm 22b of thebracket members 22 is split at its ends into a plurality ofperpendicularly separated finger portions 220 and 22d. The fingerportions 220 lie adjacent and parallel to the side face of the magneticcore structure l0, while the finger portions 22d lie adjacent andparallel to the bottom face of the magnetic core structure In. A singlefastener 26 may then be provided, passing respectively through suitablealigned holes in s eaves bracket fingers 22c, clamp shaped end portions[4a and the base portion lfla of the laminated magnetic structure It].Fastener 2% may conveniently comprise a rivet and, when secured inplace, this single fastener effects the rigid seourement of the magneticlaminations, the armature and spring member. and the bracket.

An applicator device 28 is suitably secured to the outer face of the armportion E5 of the armature and spring member i2. As described in detailin my above referred to copending application, such applicatorpreferably is provided with an arcuate exterior surface 28a whicheffectively constitutes a continuation of the external contours of thecasing Furthermore, the peripheral dimensions of applicator 28 areselected so that the open end of recess la is substantially closed bythe applicator.

. The operation of the vibrator construction embodying this invention isbelieved to be obvious from the foregoing detailed description of itsconstruction. When the solenoid i8 is energized by a suitable source ofalternating current, the armature arm portion iii of the unitaryarmature and spring member i2 i drawn into engagement with the end facesof pole portions IGb of the magnetic structure IQ each time that theenergizing current approaches its maximum value in any particular halfcycle. When the current falls off to zero value at the end of each halfcycle, the inherent resilience of the unitary armature and spring membertel moves the armature arm portion is thereof away from the pole endfaces. Thus a definite vibratory movement is imparted to the applicator253.

In some designs, it has been found desirable to so proportion thebracket members 22 so that a slight vibratory movement of the armportion 22b thereof with respect to the fixed arm portion 22a will occurduring the operation of the vibrator. It will be noted that the U-shapedconfiguration of the bracket 22 will conveniently permit a slightvibratory movement of the arm portion 22b in substantially the samedirection as the vibratory movement of the armature portion l6. Sincethe magnetic core structure id is of course subjected to equal andopposite reaction forces as are applied to the armature portion 16, theprovision of a sligh resilience of the bracket 22 may substantiallyincrease the effective vibrating force delivered 3' the massageapplicator 28.

It will, of course, be understood that various details of constructionmay be varied through a Wide range without departing from the principlesof this invention and it is, therefore, not the purpose to limit thepatent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the scope of theappended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a massaging device, a casing haped to be grasped by hand, saidcasing defining a generally cylindrical recess opening at one end of thecasing, a laminated magnetic core structure insertable in said recessthrough said open end, said core structure having a base portion and aplurality of pole portions projecting from said base' toward said openend of the casing, an armature member of generally U-shape, one arm ofsaid armature member being shaped to snugly surround said base portionof said magnetic laminations to secure said laminations in assembly, theother arm of said armature mem her having laterally extended endportions norof the magnetic structure to secure said elements inassembly.

2. In a massaging device, a casing defining a recess, a laminatedmagnetic core structure disposed in said recess and having a baseportion and a plurality of pole portions projecting from said base, acombination integral armature and spring member of generally U-shapehaving a clamping portion thereof disposed in partially surroundingrelationship to said base portion of said magnetic laminations to securesaid laminations in assembly and an armature portion disposed adjacentthe ends of said pole portions and normally spaced therefrom but movableagainst the inherent resiliency of the armature and spring member into abridging position against said pole ends, a bracket secured to saidcasing and having a portion extending into said recess and flexiblymovable in substantially the same direction as the vibratory movement ofsaid armature portion of said armature member, and common fasteningmeans for securing said bracket portion, said clamp portion, and saidmagnetic core structure in rigid assembly.

3. In a massaging device, a casing defining a generally cylindricalrecess open at one end, a laminated magnetic core structure insertablein said recess through said open end, said core structure having a baseportion and a plurality of pole portions projecting from said baseportion toward said open end of said casing, an armature member ofgenerally U-shape, one arm of said armature member having a clamp shapedend snugly surrounding said base portion of said magnetic laminations tosecure said iaminations in assembly, the other arm of said armature memher having an end portion normally disposed adjacent the ends of saidpole portion and spaced therefrom but movable against the inherentresilience of the U-shaped member into a bridging position across saidpole ends, a flexible brackat of U-shaped configuration having a firstarm secured to a wall of said recess and a second arm extending withinsaid recess, said second arm being resiliently movable with respect tosaid first arm in substantially the same direction as the vibratorymovement of said other arm of the armature member, and a single fastenertraversing said second bracket arm, said clamp shaped end, and saidmagnetic core structure for securing such elements in rigid assembly.

LELAND H. SNYDER.

REFERENCES GETEU following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,582,479 Lanz Apr. 27, 19262,144,343 N ewnham Jan. 17, 1939

